Sudan 's foreign ministry denied published reports that a woman sentenced to death for refusing to renounce her Christian faith is expected to be released .

Foreign ministry spokesman Abubakar Al-Sidiq said that he is not aware of any plans to release Mariam Yahya Ibrahim before a ruling from an appeals court .

Ibrahim was condemned to die by hanging after she declined to profess she is a Muslim , the religion of her father . Sharia law considers her a Muslim and does not recognize her marriage to a Christian . She is unlikely to change her mind despite giving birth in prison , says her husband Daniel Wani , who also is a Christian .

Some Western media outlets have reported that Ibrahim would be released in a few days , but her husband said that only the appeals court could free his wife .

`` I 'm not aware that any release is imminent , '' Wani told CNN .

Technically , the president of Sudan can not pardon her , so the judiciary might be the only way out for the government , which is coming under increased international pressure to release Ibrahim .

The court convicted her of apostasy and adultery two weeks ago . At the time , she was eight months pregnant . She gave birth to a baby girl this week at a Khartoum prison , where she 's detained with Martin , her 20-month-old son .

Despite languishing in prison with two infants , she 's holding firm to her beliefs , according to her husband .

`` There is pressure on her from Muslim religious leaders that she should return to the faith , '' Wani told CNN in a TV exclusive . `` She said , ` How can I return when I never was a Muslim ? Yes , my father was a Muslim , but I was brought up by my mother . ' ''

Wani said his wife is a practicing Christian , more so than him , and even had their son baptized .

`` I know my wife . She 's committed , '' he said . `` Even last week , they brought in sheikhs and she told them , ` I 'm pretty sure I 'm not going to change my mind . ' ''

Wani , who is a U.S. citizen , said he is thrilled about his new daughter but hopes her birth does n't hasten his wife 's death sentence .

In past cases involving pregnant or nursing women , Sudan waited until the mother had weaned her child before executing any sentence . Sharia law as practiced in Sudan prohibits carrying out the death sentence on an expectant woman until two years after she gives birth .

CNN sought comment from the Sudanese government and was directed to the justice ministry . A CNN request for an interview was denied , and the justice minister said they do n't comment on such matters because a final judgment has not yet been issued . An attempt to contact Sudan 's foreign affairs minister for comment was unsuccessful .

Woman raised as Christian , husband says

Ibrahim , 27 , was arrested after Muslim relatives accused her of renouncing her religion .

Their complaint alleged that she went missing for years , and her family was shocked to find out she married a Christian , according to her attorney , Mohamed Jar Elnabi .

Wani said he 'd never met the relatives who made the accusations . His wife , he said , was raised a Christian by her mother , an Ethiopian Orthodox , after her Muslim father deserted the family when Ibrahim was 6 .

`` These people filed charges claiming that she was their sister and filed a police report saying that she had disappeared , '' he said .

At first , Ibrahim was charged with adultery for marrying a Christian . The apostasy accusation was added after she maintained she was a Christian , according to her husband .

`` The police originally called for the case to be dismissed , but these people went back and added another charge ... which is adultery , by saying she was their sister and a Muslim . It is illegal for a Muslim woman to marry a Christian man , therefore we were brought before the court . ''

She 's been detained since January 17 , he said . In addition to the emotional turmoil resulting from the conviction , the couple also have to worry about their children , Wani said .

`` An illegitimate marriage does not result in legally recognized offspring , which means that my son and the new baby are no longer mine , '' he said .

Wani 's physical condition makes the ordeal even harder . He uses a wheelchair and `` totally depends '' on Ibrahim , according to her lawyer .

`` He can not live without her , '' he said .

Wani said he 's not been allowed to visit his detained family as much since the apostasy charge was added .

`` She 's in a bad mood , '' he said of his wife . `` She 's frustrated . ''

More punishment

In addition to the death sentence , the court sentenced Ibrahim to 100 lashes for the adultery conviction .

The court had warned her to renounce her Christianity by May 15 , but she has steadfastly maintained she is a Christian and will remain so .

Sudanese Parliament speaker Fatih Izz Al-Deen said claims that she was raised as a non-Muslim were untrue .

She was raised in an Islamic environment , and her brother , a Muslim , filed the complaint against her , according to Al-Deen .

` I 'll stand by her '

Wani said he was optimistic the appeal their lawyers have filed would lead to the court 's ruling being overturned .

`` I 'm hoping that , given the way people have come together around the world -- which I want to thank them for , '' he said .

`` All the rights groups , all the broadcasters ... It 's looking like it had an effect . Perhaps it will result in the judgment being overturned . ''

But until it 's done , the mother of his children has his support .

`` I 'm standing by her to end . Whatever she wants , I 'll stand by her , '' he said .

Worldwide condemnation

Rights groups and foreign embassies worldwide have condemned the verdict . The ruling also created shock waves in Sudan , where activists are defying the government and criticizing what they consider an overly harsh implementation and interpretation of Islam

`` The fact that a woman could be sentenced to death for her religious choice , and to flogging for being married to a man of an allegedly different religion , is abhorrent and should never be even considered , '' said Manar Idriss , Amnesty International 's Sudan researcher .

Foreign embassies in Khartoum , including those of the United States , United Kingdom and Canada , urged the Sudanese government to reverse course .

There 's no timetable on when the judicial process will be over , but the couple is n't giving up . The appeals court 's ruling could come within the next week , their attorney says .

Until then , they 're grasping at small signs of hope . The last time Sudan executed someone for apostasy was in 1985 when a man criticized Sharia law .

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Foreign ministry denies reports that Meriam Yehya Abrahim would be released

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She has been condemned to die by hanging and gave birth to a baby girl this week at a Sudanese prison

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A Sudanese court issued the sentence after she refused to renounce her Christian faith

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Her husband says she 's holding firm to her beliefs regardless of circumstances